The government’s much-hailed District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) has been outdoored in the Ashanti and Northen Regions.
These two regions have also received road improvement vehicles, which is an integral part of the DRIP initiative launched by President Akufo-Addo in Accra, last month.
The DRIP equipment is made of water tankers, backhoes, motor graders, rollers, tipper trucks, bulldozers and concrete mixers.
The policy is expected to address road challenges, which have been pencilled as a national security challenge.
For the Ashanti Region, the launch ceremony was held at the Regional Coordinating Council in Kumasi on Friday, August 23, 2024 by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, who noted that throughout the project, the region will have 495 gadgets with low-bird machines.
Osei-Mensah emphasised the project’s significance in boosting the region’s economy.
“Since His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo took office, we’ve witnessed unprecedented road construction across the country. DRIP will further accelerate this progress, focussing on rural areas and raw material sources,” he said.
The Ashanti regional minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, cautioned Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in the region not to use the equipment meant for DRIP for illegal mining activities, which is better known as Galamsey.
Mr Osei-Mensah reminded the MMDCEs that these road infrastructure machines are embedded with tracking devices, which will expose any illegality associated with the operations of these gadgets.
“All this equipment has a manufacturer’s tracker—not tracks made in Ghana, so if you take these machines to galamsey sites to undertake galamsey operations, it will expose you.
These trackers are not disposable trackers, which can easily be tempered with. The manufacturer has embedded the trackers in the gadgets, so if you temper with them, you would be caught. Each and everyone should be careful with the machines because there are in-built trackers by the manufacturer,” Osei-Mensah said.
He further admonished the MMDCES to use the equipment for the needed purposes and not for their parochial interests, adding that they should take good care of the equipment and make roads available for easy carting of food from farm gates to market places.
On how these gadgets are going to be maintained, he told MMDCEs that these gadgets would be manned by the 48 Engineering Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The Chairman of the event, who represented His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu at the function, the Chief of Asante Asiakwa, ObrempongAsiakwa Agyeman Agyei, lauded the DRIP initiative as an unprecedented programme from which every region in Ghana is going to benefit.
The gadgets, according to Obrempong Agyeman Adjei, are going to be used to support road projects in the districts.
He subsequently urged MMDCEs to use the equipment for solely road projects and not on their farms.
“Use the equipment for the intended purpose for the masses to appreciate the efforts the government is making to improve their plight.”
On his part, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Kumasi, Samuel Pyne, said that Akufo-Addo’s government has unmatched records in road infrastructure.
However, he was quick to add that there are more grounds to cover in the road infrastructure development of the Ashanti region.
NORTHERN REGION
The Northern Regional DRIP launch was launched by the Minister for Finance and Member of Parliament for the Karaga Constituency, Alhaji Amin Adam, who launched the new set of road construction equipment in Tamale, the regional capital.
According to the Minister, the government has invested over GH¢17 billion in roads alone this year, demonstrating its commitment to enhancing rural and urban connectivity and driving equitable growth throughout the country.
He highlighted the government’s robust investment strategy, which includes GH¢11 billion allocated in the first two quarters of the year and an additional GH¢7 billion planned for the remainder.
Addressing recent claims, Alhaji Adam clarified that the equipment was not funded through the MPs’ Common Fund but rather through treasury bills to the contractor, which were used to secure bank loans to procure the equipment.
He stressed that this investment will significantly improve road access for farmers and rural communities, facilitating easier transportation of goods to city centers.
Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Thomas Mbomba, underscored the importance of decentralising road construction to bridge disparities between rural and urban areas.
He urged the Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to utilise the equipment effectively to maximize benefits for Ghanaians.
His Royal Majesty, Ya Na Abukari II, the Overlord of Dagbon, expressed deep satisfaction with the launch and extended gratitude to the government for its dedication to improving road infrastructure.
He emphasised that the initiative represents a crucial step in supporting economic growth and development across Ghana’s districts.
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Alhassan Saani Saibu, noted the exceptional benefits the initiative brings to the Northern Region, which will now receive 131 new pieces of equipment, including water tankers, backhoes, rollers, wheel loaders, concrete mixers, tipper trucks, and more.
According to him, this development will create 400 direct jobs and enhance the region’s road network substantially.
Mr. Munkaila Mohammed, Northern Regional Private Business Manager of Zoomlion, representing JA Plant Pool, addressed the durbar of chiefs and people, highlighting the collaboration of key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization, and Rural Development (MLGDRD), Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), and JA Plant Pool.
He noted that the partnership will ensure rigorous monitoring and maintenance of the equipment, facilitated by the deployment of telematic devices for tracking and fuel efficiency.
This ambitious initiative, he said, marked a significant leap forward in Ghana’s road infrastructure development, promising enhanced connectivity, economic growth, and improved quality of life for all Ghanaians.
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